COUNCIL OF

THE EUROPEAN UNION EN

Lisbon, 6 November 2007
14743/07 (Presse 255)

Agreed Conclusions of the 9th Euro-Mediterranean Meeting of

Ministers of Foreign Affairs

Lisbon, 5-6 November 2007

Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership met on 5 and 6

November 2007 in Lisbon, under the Presidency of H.E. Luis Amado, Foreign Minister of
Portugal. This meeting offered an appropriate opportunity to assess the progress made
during 2007 in implementing the Tampere programme which is derived from the 5-year
Work Programme adopted in Barcelona in 2005, and to agree on the priorities for next year.

Ministers reaffirm their commitment to pursue their efforts to realise the Barcelona
Declaration objectives: to establish a common area of peace and stability, to create an area
of shared prosperity and to develop a partnership in social, cultural and human affairs.

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Ministers are pleased to note that 12 years after its creation, the Barcelona Process has led
to an enhanced dialogue and cooperation in a wide range of fields of common interest for
the Euro-Mediterranean partners. Notwithstanding the positive results achieved to date,
Ministers acknowledge that new developments should be taken into consideration to
consolidate the Barcelona Process in the future. Ministers emphasise the important role that
the Barcelona Process can play in addressing common challenges facing the Euro-
Mediterranean region, such as: economic and social development, climate change and
energy, civil protection, migration, and countering terrorism and extremism.

Ministers also emphasise that while the Barcelona Process could be enriched by other
initiatives aiming at strengthening the political, economic and cultural ties between the
Euro-Med countries, they underline the strong attachment of all partners to the Barcelona
Process and reiterate its centrality for the EU relations with Mediterranean countries.

Ministers reaffirm their commitment to maintain the comprehensive approach implemented

since the inception of the Barcelona Process to achieve the objectives of the Euro-Med
partnership. They welcome the fact that despite the prevailing tension in the Middle East,
the Euro-Med partners have succeeded to maintain a constructive dialogue covering key
issues such as efforts contributing to achieve further progress in the MEPP, partnership
building measures and joint Euromed sectorial projects aiming at promoting a peaceful,
stable and secure Euro-Med region, sustainable development, promoting and supporting
reform based on a common commitment to shared principles, strengthening rule of law,
democracy, political pluralism, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,
including freedom of expression and association, the role of civil society as well as
strengthening the role of women in society. This systematic and structured dialogue and
cooperation has enabled the partners to develop a better understanding of each other based
on a common commitment to shared principles, promoting respect for all religions, cultures
and beliefs.

Ministers welcome the progress on the ongoing work regarding the improvement of
working methods aiming at enhancing co-ownership, increasing efficiency and ensuring
visibility of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.

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Ministers reiterate their support to ongoing negotiations to establish a Euro-Mediterranean
free trade area in accordance with the provisions of the Barcelona Declaration and the
Associations Agreements. Substantial progress has been achieved to date with the scope of
the negotiations gradually extended to services and right of establishment and agricultural
and fisheries products. Ministers note with satisfaction the rising trend of foreign direct
investments in the Euro-Mediterranean region and stress the significant role played by the
Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP). They are also
pleased to note that Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in the fields of environment, transport,
energy and information society has increased and that common objectives have been
defined.

Progress has also been registered in the social and cultural partnership, with joint initiatives
launched to promote the role of women, young people and civil society. Ministers underline
the important role of the Anna Lindh Foundation, established by the Euro-Mediterranean
partners to promote dialogue between cultures and to convey universal principles and
shared values and ensure better knowledge, mutual understanding and respect among Euro–
Mediterranean peoples.

Ministers are pleased to communicate that most of the commitments made at their last
meeting in Tampere have led to concrete initiatives in 2007, which are described below.
They herewith present the main objectives and events planned for 2008.

Ministers stress the importance of the European Neighbourhood Policy, which contributes
to reinforcing and complementing the Barcelona Process through implementing bilateral
Association Agreements and the Action Plans in accordance with agreed priorities. They
welcome the participation of Euro-Med partner countries in the International conference on
3rd September 2007 in Brussels “Working together – strengthening the European
Neighbourhood Policy”. Ministers emphasise the importance of consultations regarding all
new initiatives with the aim of enhancing cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean region. In
this context, Ministers take note of a presentation on the Mediterranean Union as an
initiative to complement the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.

They remind that the political objectives of the Barcelona process are sustained by a
substantial budget of more than € 3.3 billion for 2007-2010, which has been earmarked for
Mediterranean regional and bilateral cooperation in the framework of the European
Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI). They also take note of the
establishment of a ENP Governance Facility to support willing Mediterranean partners in
carrying out their reforms and welcome the progress towards establishing a substantial ENP
Investment Facility.

Ministers acknowledge the EU-Africa Joint Strategy and Plan of Action and look forward
to the EU/Africa Summit in Lisbon in December 2007.

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Ministers welcome Albania and Mauritania into the Barcelona Process.

I - Political and Security Partnership

Political and security dialogue

The Barcelona Declaration launched a partnership which is unique in its scope. The
Barcelona Process is the only forum within which all Euro-Med partners exchange views
and engage in a constructive dialogue in spite of the persisting conflict in the Middle East
and in the other parts of the region. Political dialogue has become a regular item on the
agenda of the Euro-Med Senior Officials meetings.

Since the Euro-Mediterranean Tampere Ministerial Conference which concluded that the
Barcelona Process is not intended to replace the other activities and initiatives undertaken
in interests of peace, stability and development of the region and that it will also contribute
to their success, the political and security dialogue has focused on a regular review of the
political situation in the Middle East.

a. In this context, Ministers reaffirm their commitment to achieve a just,

comprehensive and lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, consistent with the
terms of reference of the Madrid Conference and its principles, including land for
peace and based on the relevant UNSC resolutions and the Road Map. Partners
also call for the reinvigoration of efforts to promote progress in the Middle East
Peace Process on all its tracks.

Ministers welcome the positive role played by the EU in the Middle East, notably
in the framework of the Quartet. They encourage the resumption of substantial
bilateral talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority which should pave the
way to the fulfillment of the vision of two national states, a safe and secure Israel
and a viable, sovereign and democratic Palestinian State, living side by side in
peace and security. Final state issues, including border issues, have to be agreed by
the parties.

b. The implementation of the Code of Conduct on countering terrorism.

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 Ministers reiterate their condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations and their determination to eradicate it and to combat its sponsors
and they reaffirm their commitment to fully implement the Code of Conduct on
Countering Terrorism in order to enhance the security of all citizens within a
framework that ensures respect of the rule of law and human rights, particularly
through more effective counterterrorism policies and deeper co-operation to
dismantle all terrorist activities, to protect potential targets and to manage the
consequences of attacks. They emphasise the need to address the conditions
conducive to the spread of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations without
qualification, committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purposes. In
this context the Ministers welcome the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy
adopted in September 2006. They also reiterate the complete rejection of attempts
to associate any religion or culture with terrorism, and confirm their commitment
to do their utmost effort with a view to resolving conflict, ending occupation,
confronting oppression, reducing poverty, promoting human rights and good
governance, improving intercultural understanding and ensuring respect for all
religions and beliefs. Such actions serve directly the interests of the people of the
Euro-Med region and work against the interests of the terrorists and the networks.

Ministers underline the importance of the Euro-Med ad hoc meetings on terrorism

which should be more oriented to the practical implementation of the code of
conduct. They agreed to concentrate efforts for 2008 on technical issues such as
reinforcing the international co-operation in criminal matters. They note that the
Euro-Med ad hoc meeting on terrorism will take place in Brussels on 13th
November. They also take note of the Euro-Med seminar which will take place in
Morocco during the first semester of 2008 co-organised by Morocco and the
United Nations office on Drugs and Crime. They also consider that all Partners
should seek to meet commitments reflected in the Code of Conduct, on sharing
experiences in managing the consequences of terrorist attacks and enhancing
capacity building in this respect as well as addressing radicalisation and other
issues.

Furthermore, Ministers took note of the conclusions and recommendations of the

conference on ‘Preventing incitement to terrorism and radicalisation: what role for
the media?’ (Dublin, 21 May 2007) co-organised by the Irish Department of
Foreign Affairs and the European Commission for follow up at appropriate level.

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c. The deepening of the dialogue on ESDP and security issues. The Euro-Med ad hoc
meeting on ESDP (Brussels, 13 June 2007) provided a good opportunity to review
previous and upcoming ESDP dialogue and activities (civilian and military)
between the EU and Mediterranean Partners. such as a Euro-Med seminar co-
organised by European Institute on Security Studies and Morocco which will take
place in Rabat in the first semester of 2008, such as Orientation courses under the
auspices of the European Security and Defense College or EU crisis management
exercices. An orientation course on ESDP for Euro-Med partners will take place
from the 5th to the 9th November. An Euro-Med Senior Officials ad hoc meeting
on ESDP is also foreseen in November 2007.

d. The launching of a regional dialogue on joint cooperation, best practices and

exchange of technical experience in the area of elections. An initial dialogue on
cooperation and best practices in the area of elections was launched at Senior
Officials' level, where it has been agreed that such a dialogue could take place.
Ministers expressed their wish that the useful discussions on the subject of
elections at the Euro-Med senior officials meetings in 2007 can be continued at
experts’ level. Ministers agreed that joint cooperation and exchange of experience
could be developed on a voluntary basis upon the request of any of the partners.

Ministers are convinced that the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) is a

major asset that should improve dialogue and understanding between all peoples of the
Euro-Med region. They take note of the results of the EMPA Plenary meeting held in
March 2007 in Tunis. Ministers lend their full support to Greece, as the current Presidency
of the EMPA, for a successful Plenary Assembly in 2008.

Enhancing the partnership building measures

a. EuroMeSCo initiatives related to civil society, human rights and democracy. Two
EuroMeSCo sub-regional seminars (Meknès, 21-23 September 2006/Alexandria
26-28 April 2007) on civil society, human rights and democracy and the
EuroMesCo-seminar on “Governance, Reform, Human Rights in the Euro-Med
region” held in Berlin, on 31 May 2007, provided local and regional civil society
actors with a meaningful platform to address the various challenges linked to
political reform and democracy.

b. Towards a Euro-Mediterranean system of civil protection

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 The rising trend in vulnerability to natural and manmade disasters in many parts of
the Mediterranean confirms the need for greater safety and security measures to be
in place to the benefit of its citizens. The Commission has over the past years
funded the Euro-Med Pilot Project (1998-2003) and the Euro-Med Bridge
Programme for the Development of a Euro-Med system for the reduction,
prevention and management of natural and man-made disasters (2005-2008) to
strengthen and build up capacity of civil protection agencies in Mediterranean
partner countries. Ministers welcome the continued support to this highly pertinent
initiative with a new phase (2008-2010, Euro-Med Programme of Prevention,
Reduction and management of natural and manmade Disasters) that should benefit
from improved strategic approach and the recommendations put forward in the
Mid-Term evaluation of the Bridge Programme. In this context, Ministers
acknowledged the importance of strengthening the Mediterranean Partners
national structures in charge of prevention, protection, preparedness, and response
to all natural, and man-made risks, as well as of setting a network of permanent
national correspondent.

c. Ministers welcomed the Commission proposal to offer a partnership between the

Commission and Mediterranean partner country administrations in the exchange of
professional experience. The offer from the Commission includes the secondment
and exchange of officials and trainees.

II- Sustainable Socio-Economic Development and Reform

Towards establishing a Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area

(1) Ministers note that significant progress has been achieved in 2007, as highlighted at
the 6th Euro-Mediterranean Trade Ministerial Conference on 21 October in Lisbon,
especially in the negotiations on services and the right of establishment, for which
most negotiating partners have shown interest and commitment. Ministers note with
satisfaction that the Commission will launch negotiations with a number of
Mediterranean partners at the beginning of 2008, with a view to concluding bilateral
protocols expected to be concluded within a timeframe that should deliver
progressive liberalisation of services and establishment by 2010. A Euro-
Mediterranean Trade ministerial Conference will be held in France in the second
semester 2008.

(2) Ministers welcome the decision to set up a Euro-Med Senior Officials working
Group to reflect on the completion of the Euro-Med free trade area.

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(3) Ministers also note with satisfaction that negotiations launched in Marrakech to
establish a dispute settlement mechanism in the area of trade have achieved good
progress with a number of negotiating partners.

(4) Ministers welcome progress achieved in the negotiations on further liberalisation of

agricultural, processed agricultural and fisheries products, in accordance with the
Rabat Euro-Mediterranean Road Map for Agriculture which are ongoing with
Egypt, Israel and Morocco. Discussions are also being held with some
Mediterranean countries on recognition and protection of geographical indications
for agricultural products.

(5) Ministers acknowledge that the entry into force of the Agadir Agreement
establishing a Mediterranean Free Trade Area between Morocco, Jordan, Tunisia
and Egypt in July 2006 was an important step forward in the creation of a Euro-
Mediterranean free trade area. The implementation of this agreement, providing for
diagonal cumulation of origin, will allow economic operators to reap the full
benefits of this cumulation system, thus pursuing the south-south economic
integration.

(6) Ministers welcome the proposal by Morocco to host the first Euro-Med technical
meeting on customs cooperation and the fight against fraud in 2008 in Tangiers.
Such meeting will enhance cooperation between customs at regional scale and will
thus contribute to prevent illegal trade.

Stimulating economic cooperation and investments

(7) Ministers renewed their commitment to support investment, job creation, economic
and social reforms in the Mediterranean region. They note with satisfaction that the
Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) has invested
some € 6 billion in support of the economic development of the nine Mediterranean
partner countries in four years. They welcomed the commitment to enhance the
FEMIP expressed in the ECOFIN Council in November 2006, and also the strategy
agreed upon by Ministers at their Conference in Cyprus on 13-14 May 2007, based
on a wider range of financial instruments to foster private sector development. A
Euro-Mediterranean FEMIP ministerial conference will be held in 2008. The 12th
Euro-Mediterranean Economic Transition conference planned in 2008 will also
focus on financial and banking services.

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(8) Ministers welcome the results of the 3rd Euro-Med ECOFIN Ministerial meeting
held on 15 September in Porto, in particular the decision to create a Euro-Med
network of public finance experts to discuss the main challenges in fiscal policy and
to exchange knowledge, experience and good practices in the field of public
finance. The 4th Euro-Mediterranean ECOFIN ministerial Conference will take
place in Luxembourg in 2008.

(9) Ministers underline the importance of investment in achieving Socio-Economic

development in the partner countries. In this regard, they take note with satisfaction
of the first meeting of the Ad-Hoc Group on Investment in Brussels on 23 April
2007. They also stress the importance of defining a precise mandate for the Ad hoc
Group, its responsibilities, and the interactions between the various Euro-
Mediterranean fora for discussion and decisions on investment. They also stress the
importance of holding other meetings in 2008 to ensure appropriate follow up of
this initiative The ANIMA network pointed out that foreign direct investment in the
Mediterranean region increased from $30 billion in 2005 to $48,7 billion in 2006.

(10) Ministers reiterate the importance of creating an environment conducive to

investment and private sector development. Considerable progress has been made in
the implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise, since the
meeting of Euro-Mediterranean Ministers for Industry in Rhodes in September
2006. The next Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Meeting on Industrial Cooperation
scheduled for November 2008. The meeting will take stock of progress achieved so
far and define a work programme on industrial cooperation for 2009-2010.

(11) Ministers emphasise the great importance they attach to innovation. In this regard,
Mediterranean partner countries were invited to a seminar in Brussels on 19-20 July
to receive detailed information on the EU Competitiveness and Innovation
programme (CIP), which is open to their participation. To accelerate regulatory
convergence and improve market access, further technical assistance has been
provided through regional technical seminars and bilateral missions of experts and
EU Twinning projects within the ENP.

(12) In the textile and clothing sector, a conference on managing structural changes in
the sector was organised in Istanbul, on 12 June 2007. A conference on research and
innovation in the textile and clothing sector was held in Cairo, on 6-7 September
2007. Industrial cooperation activities are monitored by a public-private Euro-Med
Working Party on industrial cooperation that met in Brussels in February 2007 and
in October 2007. Concerns were expressed vis-à-vis the challenges facing the Euro-
Med textile industry due to the current developments on the international market.

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(13) Ministers stressed that tourism is one of the major economic sectors in the
Mediterranean. In 2005, more than 50 million tourist arrivals were registered in
Mediterranean partner countries, and, in most countries, the majority of the arrivals
were from EU Member States. Ministers agreed to hold a ministerial meeting in
Morocco in the first semester 2008 in response to the initiative from Morocco,
Portugal and Slovenia.

Enhancing cooperation in the fields of Energy and Transports

(14) Ministers reiterate the need to further reinforce cooperation in the field of energy
and welcome the agreements and arrangements signed with some southern partners.
To this end Ministers welcome the setting up of the Euro-Med Energy Forum
experts’ group in 2007 with a threefold objective: to enhance integration of the
Euro-Med energy markets, particularly in the fields of gas and electricity, to support
infrastructure projects of common interest and to promote sustainable development
through e.g. renewable energy projects and measures to improve energy efficiency
and saving, in particular, through the transfer of technology.

(15) A Euro-Med Energy Ministerial meeting, to be hosted by Cyprus, will take place in
late 2007 to adopt the "Priority Action Programme for Euro-Mediterranean Energy
Cooperation" for the forthcoming period, including the operational take off of the
Rome Euro-Mediterranean Energy Platform (REMEP).

(16) Ministers welcome the results of the 8th Euro-Mediterranean Transport Forum held
in May 2007 which adopted a five-year Regional Transport Action Plan (RTAP) for
the Mediterranean (2007-2013). Ministers also stress the importance of the
conclusions of the December 2005 Marrakech Ministerial conference for the
establishment of an integrated, safe and efficient transport system in the
Mediterranean area as a key factor for the development of the region and for the
increase in interregional trade. In this regard, the Ministers support the proposal to
hold a high level meeting (end of 2007 or beginning 2008) on transport which will
focus on two main points: presentation of the Regional Transport Action Plan and
steps towards implementation of its actions and the extension of the trans-European
transport network to Mediterranean region.

Ongoing work on statistics cooperation

(17) Reliable statistics are an important factor in decision making. Technical assistance
to the statistical services in the Mediterranean partner countries is being provided
through the MEDSTAT II programme. Ministers agree that it will be necessary to
explore available mechanisms to allow continued support for the development of the
statistical capacity of the countries beyond that date, particularly in areas not treated
so far, for example, services and health.

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Environment, Climate Change and sustainable development

(18) The 11th Euro-Mediterranean Economic Transition conference on 18 and 19 June

2007 constituted a major event to raise awareness among economic experts and
policy decision makers on the challenges of climate change and their economic
implications. Ministers acknowledge the importance of launching further initiatives
to respond to the growing concerns on the impact of climate change in the
Mediterranean region and mandated Euro-Med partners to work on raising
awareness, support studies on regional impacts, facilitate technical co-operation and
exchange of expertise, tackle the interrelated issues of climate change and energy.

In this respect, fostering cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean region is

recommended to help the Mediterranean partner countries’ low-lying coastal areas –
proved to be endangered by climate change.

(19) Ministers welcome that the Horizon 2020 initiative relating to the de-pollution of
the Mediterranean will continue to implement the measures agreed under the
timetable of actions approved at the third Euro-Mediterranean meeting of
Environment Ministers held in Cairo and put forward by the first meeting of the
Steering Committee in June 2007. The European Environment Agency will
cooperate with its counterparts to design a coherent indicator process and a
framework for regular indicator-based analyses, including a “scorecard” to compare
and measure progress. The European Investment Bank has begun to identify the
pollution reduction projects arising from the regional work of the Mediterranean
Action Plan (MAP) which appear to have the best possibility of being bankable.
This is the first step to develop a project pipeline under Horizon 2020.

(20) Ministers welcome the upcoming 4th Conference of Water Directors of the Euro-
Mediterranean and South Eastern European Countries on 10-11 December 2007,
which that will build on the conclusions of the third Conference, 6-7 November
2006, in Athens. Furthermore, Ministers take note of the possible organization of a
special ad hoc Euro-Mediterranean ministerial Conference on water to take place in
the second semester of 2008. The terms of reference for the Conference shall be
agreed upon by all partners in due time.

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Information Society

(21) Ministers welcome the setting up of a Forum of Senior Officials to discuss the
future development of the Euro-Mediterranean Information Society, following the
first Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on the Information Society
organised in Ireland in 2005. A second meeting of the Euro-Med Forum took place
on 25 October 2007 in Brussels in order to elaborate on the priorities for the
Information Society policies and to prepare the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial
Conference that will be hosted by Egypt in February 2008.

(22) In preparation for the 2nd EUROMED Ministerial Conference on the Information
Society and in cooperation with the European Commission, it is aimed to activate
the EUROMED Senior Officials' Forum on the Information Society. It was also
agreed that a mapping exercise is required to match the existing programmes on one
side and identified priorities for the Euro-Mediterranean region on the other. In this
regard, the suggested cooperation was based on a peer to peer level of partnership
and in principle of cost sharing. Acting on these recommendations, it is targeted to
enhance cooperation in ICT in the region.

Developing a more systematic approach to cooperation in the field of employment

(23) Ministers consider that employment creation and the modernisation of labour
markets are among the most pressing challenges for the Euro-Mediterranean partner
countries in a globalised world and changing economic environment. They
welcomed progress on the implementation of the commitment to support market-
based reform of technical and vocational education and learning, the involvement of
commerce and industry, and rationalisation of qualifications. In this regard, upon
the recommendation of Tampere Conference, a workshop will take place on 12 and
13 December 2007 and will pave the way for a Euro-Med Ministerial Conference on
Employment to be held in the second semester of 2008 that will bring together
government representatives, social partners, and international organisations. The
Ministerial meeting, which will cover various aspects related to human
development, should envisage concrete initiatives and proposals to promote
employment creation, the modernisation of labour markets, and decent work.

(24) The high-level conference on “Employment and Social Dialogue" organised by the
German Euro-Mediterranean Presidency in Berlin on 16 March 2007 focused on
employment and social-policy issues. It placed employment firmly on the Euro-Med
agenda as part of a genuine social dimension and established the basis for the
Ministerial Conference.

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Towards enhanced cooperation on health issues

(25) Ministers stress the importance of health issues in the Euro-Med context, and
confirmed the necessity of holding a Euro-Med workshop on communicable
diseases and health systems which will take place on 4 and 5 December 2007. A
Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Health will take place in the second
semester 2008 in Egypt to be prepared by senior officials expert meetings.

Human development

(26) Ministers agreed to organise a Ministerial Conference in Morocco in 2009 with the
objective of supporting national programmes on human development and initiating
work towards a joint Euro-Mediterranean Strategy on Human Development. To this
end ministers mandate experts/senior officials to hold a preparatory meeting.

III – Education and Socio Cultural Exchanges

Towards a Euro-Mediterranean Area of Higher Education and Scientific Research

(27) The participants of the first Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Higher

Education and Scientific Research held in Cairo on 18 June 2007 jointly adopted the
‘Cairo Declaration’ which clearly defines guidelines for future co-operation among
all Euro-Mediterranean partners. The conference recognised the crucial role of
education for political, social and economic development, as well as the key
importance of research, innovation and human resources development to the
modernisation of Euro-Med societies. Ministers welcome that the conference
discussed the creation of a Euro-Med area of higher education and research and
agreed on a number of actions, including the approximation of higher education
systems, enhancing the participation of Mediterranean Partners in the Erasmus
Mundus Programme and in the take-up of the Euro-Med scholarship scheme and the
integration of the Mediterranean partner countries in the European research area. In
the academic year 2007-2008 the programme will provide grants to 549 students
from Mediterranean countries totaling nearly € 15 million. Ministers recognised the
Slovenian initiative for the establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean University, for
which Slovenia has offered to provide the seat, as an important step forward through
a cooperation network of existing universities.

(28) Ministers also underline the importance of Euro-Med cooperation in supporting the
development and modernisation processes in higher education through the
TEMPUS Programme, as well as fostering scientific research in Mediterranean
Partner Countries in particular through the 7th Framework Programme.

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(29) Furthermore, Ministers welcomed the adoption of the ‘Alexandria Declaration’ by
the IV Euro-Mediterranean University Forum (11-12 June 2007) which emphasises
the needs for exchanges of researchers and members of the academic community
between all of the institutions of higher education of the Euro-Mediterranean area.

(30) Ministers stressed the importance attached to RTD, the Monitoring Committee for
Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation will be complemented with the creation of an
expert group to cover higher education which will meet periodically to review
progress on most crucial issues. Ministers agree that the most relevant issues are the
introduction and implementation of structural reforms in Mediterranean partner
countries structured around the three main areas identified, namely, curricular
changes including those foreseen by the Bologna process, governance and funding.
The expert group will report to the Euro-Med Committee, not later than the second
semester of 2008. The first reporting exercise should focus in particular on the
contribution to the overall objective of approximation of the Euro-Med Higher
Education systems with relevance to the Bologna process and the ECTS system.

Civil Society

(31) Ministers consider that the Third Chapter of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation on

social, cultural and human affairs has undergone a considerable development. The
Civil Society Forum, which met in Morocco in November 2006 prior to the
Ministerial meeting in Tampere, was a successful event at which Euro-Med civil
society had the opportunity to exchange views and express its positions on the main
aspects of the Barcelona Process. The Civil Society Platform will change its
management structure in a general assembly to be held before the end of 2007.

(32) Ministers recognise the importance of fostering the role of local and regional
authorities in developing the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. Cooperation between
local administrations constitutes an important factor for establishing contacts and
building fruitful partnerships between Euro-Mediterranean local actors and civil
society. To this end Ministers agreed to hold a Euro-Mediterranean Seminar in 2008
on developing citizens´ participation in public life.

(33) Ministers take note of the contribution of the Euro-Med network of Economic and
Social Councils and similar institutions in deepening the ties among the economic
and social interest groups in the region and of the conclusions of the Euro-Med
Summit of Economic and Social Councils and similar institutions held in Athens on
15-16 October 2007.

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The Role of Women in Society

(34) The Ministerial Conference on strengthening the role of women in society was held
in Istanbul on 14-15 November 2006. For the first time, Euro-Mediterranean
partners agreed on a comprehensive set of actions on strengthening the role of
women in society at social, cultural, economic, civil and political levels. Euro-Med
partners also undertook to put in place a follow-up mechanism to review the
implementation of the agreed measures. Ministers welcome the fact that the first
Euro-Med ad hoc meeting, that took place in Brussels on 22 October 2007, to
review the implementation of the 2007 Istanbul Ministerial Meeting conclusions
and to discuss further initiatives. Ministers also welcome the proposal made by
Morocco to host, in 2009, the second Ministerial conference on strengthening the
role of women in society.

Enhancing the Anna Lindh Foundation and promoting dialogue between cultures

(35) A Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Meeting on culture and cultural dialogue to be

held in the first semester in Greece in 2008 will be an important event that is
intended to allow partners to set out political guidelines for the future activities of
the Foundation. Ministers take note of the EU initiative to declare 2008 as the “Year
of Intercultural Dialogue”, as well as of the Arab decision to designate Damascus as
the 2008 Arab Culture Capital. In parallel with this, Ministers agreed to declare
2008 the Euro-Mediterranean year on dialogue between cultures.

(36) The Anna Lindh Foundation for the dialogue between cultures since its official
inauguration in April 2005 in Alexandria, has meanwhile fully established itself as
the common Euro-Mediterranean institution dedicated to ensure a better knowledge,
mutual understating, freedom and respect for all religions, other beliefs and cultures
among Euro-Mediterranean peoples, embracing their cultural diversity, through
intellectual, cultural and civil society exchanges based on common principles which
prevail among partners. Ministers welcome the approval of the new statutes as well
as the appointment of a new leadership, consisting of a President and an Executive
Director.

(37) Ministers acknowledge the importance of building on our cultural heritage to

improve dialogue between cultures, aiming at promoting understanding: in this
context the Euro-Med Heritage Programme should play an important role.

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(38) Ministers encourage the Anna Lindh Foundation to look for further ways to involve
a broad spectrum of society in its work. To this end they suggested seminars could
be held in 2008 on combating all forms of discrimination, racism, xenophobia and
religious intolerance as well on the role that citizens can play in promoting
moderation and rejecting extremists’ views.

(39) Ministers welcome the Alliance of Civilizations Initiative and its possible
contribution to the Barcelona Process.

Media activities

(40) Ministers recognise the value of the various activities in the media sector (training
of young journalists, TV and radio programmes in local languages, press
supplements, opinion research polling and surveys, etc…) which will help to
enhance the visibility of the Euro-Med Partnership in the Euro-Mediterranean
region as well as contributing to a mutual understanding between the peoples of the
Euro-Mediterranean region, with the contribution to the Information and
Communication programme.

(41) Ministers agree that the Euro-Med and the Media Task Force will reconvene to
explore ways of consolidating the media’s voice and role in the Partnership. They
will also advise on practical proposals to deal with the various problems raised
during the different media conferences and seminars. There will be a follow-up to
the Conference on ‘Preventing incitement to terrorism and radicalisation: what role
for the media?’ (Dublin, 21 May 2007), and a large conference will be held on
Euromed media development.

(42) The Euro-Med Audiovisual conference met in Berlin in February 2007 in order to
assess progress made in this sector and to discuss transfer of knowledge. A
reflection group has also been set up with the goal to identify the priorities for the
audiovisual industry in the coming years in the Mediterranean region.

Youth

(43) Ministers take note of the first meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean Youth Parliament
in (Berlin 26 May – 3 June 2007) to allow young people from both sides of the
Mediterranean to discuss their views about the region and the prospects for future
cooperation and welcome the second edition of the Euro-Mediterranean Youth
Parliament to take place next year in Morocco.

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(44) Ministers stressed that the activities of the Euro-Med Youth Programme contribute
to the young people’s active citizenship and to the dialogue between civil societies
and they take note of the Moroccan proposal to host a ministerial conference on
Youth.

IV – Migration, Social Integration, Justice and Security

(45) On 18 and 19 November 2007 Euro-Med partners will meet for the first time at
ministerial level to hold a comprehensive, integrated and balanced discussion on the
issues related to migration. The upcoming Euro-Med ministerial meeting on
migration will be a good opportunity to underline the added value of the regional
cooperation framework, stressing the need for continued progress by all Partners to
achieve the strategic goal of optimising the social and economic benefits of
migration for countries of origin, transit and destination, as well as continued
cooperation in efficiently tackling illegal immigration.

(46) In this context Ministers stress the importance of the contributions and follow-up
from other international initiatives such as the Rabat Euro-African ministerial
meeting on migration and development, held on 10-11 July 2006, as well as the EU-
Africa ministerial meeting on migration and development held in Tripoli on 22-23
November 2006.

(47) Ministers mandated the senior officials to undertake a reflection on ways and means
to increase the added value of regional cooperation in the fields of Justice and
Security in accordance with the Five Year Work programme.

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 Summary of planned initiatives for 2008
A) Promoting a common area of peace and stability
On-going initiatives:

– Implementation of the Code of Conduct on countering terrorism: regional

Euro-Med workshop on technical issues;

– Ad-hoc meeting on ESDP;

– Euromed Seminar during the first semester 2008, co-organised by Morocco

and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime ;

– Euromed Seminar on ESDP issues, co-organised by the European Institute on

Security Studies and Morocco, in Rabat.

B) Creating an area of shared prosperity

On-going initiatives:

– Ministerial Meeting on Trade during the second semester 2008;

– FEMIP Ministerial Meeting;

– 4th ECOFIN Ministerial Meeting in 2008;

– Ministerial Meeting on Information Society, planned in Egypt in February

2008;

– Ministerial Meeting on Water during the second semester of 2008;

– Meeting of Euro-Mediterranean Ministers for Industry, planned for November

2008;

– Euro-Mediterranean Economic Transition Conference on “financial and

banking services at the heart of economic transition”, planned for the first
semester 2008;

– Implementation of the de-pollution of the Mediterranean initiative ´2020

Horizon´: Steering Committee meeting;

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 New initiatives:

– Ministerial Meeting on Employment during the second semester 2008;

– Ministerial Meeting on Tourism, during the first semester (Morocco);

– First meeting of the Euro-Med network of public finance experts;

– EuroMed meeting on customs cooperation and fight against fraud, in Tangiers

(Morocco);

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C) Developing human resources, promoting understanding between
cultures and exchange between civil societies

On-going initiatives:

– Further actions in the programme adopted in the Ministerial Meeting on the

Role of Women in society;

– 2nd meeting of the Euro-Med Youth Parliament, in Morocco;

New initiatives:

– Ministerial Meeting on Culture and Cultural Dialogue in May 2008 in Greece

– Ministerial Meeting on Health during the second semester of 2008, in Egypt;

– Seminar on developing citizens’ participation in public life.

– Possible Conference by the Anna Lindh Foundation on the role that citizens
can play in promoting moderation and rejecting extremist views

Euro-Mediterranean Ministers of Foreign Affairs will meet in the second semester of

2008 in order to take stock of the progress achieved and agree upon the Programme for
2009.

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 ANNEX

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT AS ANNEXED TO THE LISBON CONCLUSIONS

– All members of the Barcelona Process have unanimously accepted the Lisbon
conclusions, which is an important achievement.

– The Barcelona Process continues to provide an important framework for building

regional co-operation, confidence-building measures, mutual understanding, expanding
support for reconciliation and contributing to promoting progress in the Middle East
Peace Process.

– Although it is not intended to replace other activities and initiatives undertaken in the
interests of Peace, it provides an important political framework for 37 states: the Arab
states, Israel and EU. We are happy to welcome Mauritania and Albania to the
Barcelona Process.

– The paragraphs on the Middle East Peace were – as in the past - discussed at length, and
as you understand it has not been easy to find common language.

– In the agreed common text on the Middle East, we refer in general terms to recent
developments.

– We express our commitment to contribute to the preparation of the upcoming

international meeting as set out in the Quartet Statement of 23 September, 2007, as well
as the forthcoming donors meeting in December.

– In this context, we welcome the work being carried out by the Quartet Representative,
Tony Blair.

– The Chairman would like to highlight ongoing initiatives inter alia the Arab peace
initiative, as reaffirmed in the Declaration of the last Arab League Summit (Riyadh, 29
March 2007) and the efforts of the Quartet that met with the Arab League follow-up
Committee in the margins of the UNGA in New York. We also refer to a first joint
informal meeting in the margins of GAERC on 14 May 2007 with a delegation of the
Arab League, in which the Arab Peace Initiative was presented to EU Foreign
Ministers.

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